Darning machine



w.. -I5.4sA-I/I/TI2LL.l vDARNING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION FILED IULY 26,1920: Lgfgggo Patented Aug, 22, w22.

SHEETS-SHEET 1.`

I i 11 I 5W vv. E( SAWTELL.

DARNING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1920.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

Zwama/MZ Wzl W. E. SAWTELL.

l DAR'NING MACHINE. APLICATION FILED JULY 25,1920.-

Patentd Aug. 22, 1922.

6 SHEETS-:SHEET-S.

w.. EQSAWTELL.

DARNING MACHINE. APPLICAIHON HLED JULY 26.192@

3427;@22 y Patented Aug. 22i 1922.

6 sHEETsfsHEE 5;

ffm/@yf vv. 5. SAWTELL.

.DARNING MACHINE APPLICAHON man JULY 26.1920.

l Ag/QQQQK l Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

e SHEETS-SHEET e.

wanrnn n sAwrntL, or nonnen, amenant.

'genuine raecnmn hlt.

Application filed July 26,

duction of a hand or foot operateddarning machine that is compact, portable and capable of knitting a piece of fabric or a patch on toa sock or other article of knitted or woven fabric, or into a holeor a tear therein, thereby darning or repairing, or ornamenting same.

A machine embodying my invention comprises, as is customary in knittingv machines, a .base piece carrying a frame that supports a row of aligned bearded or latch needles mounted on a suitable rising and falling blockor holder, a travelling yarn or thread carrier fed from a spool mounted' on the frame, a series of sinkers adapted. to pass to and fro between the needles when these are depressed so as to loop the yarn about the needles, means for closing at the proper time the .needle beards so as to cause them to retain the yarn and to permit them' to returnthrough the fabric and previously formed loops, an appliance for holding the work or the material of the article to b e operated on, and means for feeding relatively to the row of needles with a step by step movement.

l will described my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which show one arrangement ot a Adarning machine constructed according to the invention.

Fig. l in the drawings is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine, the needle block being in a'position somewhat above that-which it assumes at the lower end of its stroke; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a longi-4r tudinal vertical section on line lV--'V Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the line V-V in Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a plan ot' a set of cams and the sinkers operated thereby, the needles being shown'in section; Fig. 7 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale of a yarn carrier paying out yarn in front of the sinkers and behind the needles, the beards on the latter being open; Fig. 8 is a perspective view, to an enlargedscale, showing some of the sinkers indicated .in

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 2&3, i922.

ieee. serial no. 399,112.

Fig. 7 pushing yarn between the needles, the beards being open; Fig. 9 is a view showing in elevation the front ends of some of the sinkers and some of the needles in the act of rising and thereby drawing yarn through the piece ofwork tobe darned, and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the sink- 'ers advanced by the cams to the full extent, the yarn loops formed by the forward movement of the sinkers, the yarn being engaged by the beards on the needles which are closed.

ln the drawings, l denotes a base piece on which isv mounted the main trame 2 that carries the knitting ordarning mechanism and part for operating same as described below. 3 is a rising and a'lling block carrying an aligned row of interchangeable bearded needles d which, as here illustrated, are eight in number. 5 is the yarn or thread carrier which is fed with yarn or thread 5 'from a spool 6. A number of sinkers, nine in all, `lor forming loops in the yarn and arranged side'by side are indicated by the numeral 2. @n each side of the series of sinkersi is one which l call an outside sinker or yarn guide 7', provided for a specic purpose which is described hereinafter and is other than that v:tor looping the yarn about the needles.

For intermittently closing the beards Ll of the needles l? as they pass upwardly through the loops formed about them by the movement of the 'sinkers 7 after the 'needles have made their downward stroke, a slidable bevelled edge bar 8 is provided. rFhis bar is mounted to slide in guideways provided for the purpose on the frame 2 andis attached to a pair ot rearwardly extending actuating arms 9 by which it is reciprocated by mechanism referred to below, and

movement of the needles.

Fitted to or projecting from the front of lthe trame 2 i's an auxiliary trame or horn The shield is seenv .in preper timed relation with the rising part of it is shown broken away. ll-he A horn and shield together are made such a size that the smallest sock or tubular article thatthe machine is intended to deal with can be itted around or slipped on to them. ln order to prevent the frayed edges or tongues of a'tear or worn hole in the article orrfabric 12 to be darned, from ris'- ing as the needles moveupwardly through the 'sameL and to facilitate the entry and paage of the beards 4 of the Aneedles through existing portions of the fabric, I provide a device 13, which I hereafter term a presser foot that is pivotally mounted on the lower end of a vertically reciprocating frame 14, which is intermittently raised togetherwith the presser foot 13, to allow of the feeding movement of the fabric or work 12 along the horn. In order that the presser'foot may be retained in avertical or operative position, it may be provided with'latches or other suitable devices, not shown, for locking it in alignment with its frame or holder 14;,

lBy reason o f the ratio of the travel of the lyarn or threadcarrier 5 laterally of the last 20 needle in the row, Fig. 10, to the height or depth between the face of the fabric being darned, and the level at which the yarn or thread vleaves the carrier being small as compared with the corresponding ratio in known knitting machines,` it is necessary to' provide means to retain the yarn, when the yarncarrier commences eachof its strokes in directions parallel with the row ofneedles at sucha level that the yarn issuing from the carrier will be in a position for the head of the sinkers 7 whermoving to the front or forward positions, to engage with it.. For this purpose I provide the two end or outside 'sinkers 7, whichv are auxiliary sinkers and are not used for forming loops with means` for retaining the yarn inthe desired position. Such means may consist informing a suitably shaped notch 7 2, Figs. 7 and 10, on the front end or on the top edge, or in both places, ofI each of the said outside sinkers and causing these two sinkers alternately to dwell in the forward position until such time as,one or more ofthe other sinkers notches $7.2' during the periods of dwell,

suitable springs 7 3 fixed at one end to a plate 10 attached to the front end of the horn 10, may be arranged to bear against the front ends of the sinkers 7 while these are in their advanced positions during such peri- A ods, as shown in Fig. 10,

' To assist in retaining the yarn in position on the-heads of the sinkers, the head of those sinkers that are next adjacent to the outside sinkers 7 may be provided with notches 74.

' If desirable, the'heads of the other sinkers may also be notched.

The needle block 3 is detachably connected with a carrier 15 that is adapted to reciprocate on a vertical dovetail guideway 16, and

has a projection 15fthat is detachably connected by means of linkage 17, 17 with one end of a'rocking lever-18 pvotally mounted between its ends at 18 on uprights 19 supported on the frame 2.

The linkage 17, 17 is adapted to be ad It is preferred to make the part 17 readily detachable from the lever 18, and a convenient mode of connecting these two members `is shown in Fig. 2. A tubular casing 55 is attached to the side of the lever and adapted' to slide therein is a spring-pressed plunger pin 55 which passes through eyes in the forked end of the lever and the upper end of the part 17. The plunger pin is provided with `an arm/56 which extends through a curved slot 57 formed in and extending lengthwise of the casing 55. The spring 59 interposed between the plunger pin and a cover -58 on the end-of the casing normally keeps the plunger pin in the position wherein it extends through eyes provided in the forked end of lever 18 and the part 1,7.

By moving the arm 56 along the slot against the action of the spring 59, the pin may be withdrawn to disconnect the part 17 from the lever end.

The lever 18 is adapted to be rocked by means of the links 20 and 20 depending from its other end, the latter sliding in dovetail guide 203 carrying a bowl 202 that receives motion from a cam member 21 .on a cam shaft 22 that is rotated by means of suitable gears 23, Y 24 and 25 from a flywheel shaft 26, that can be operated by Vhand or by means of pedal mechanism. In Fig. 3 a flywheel 26. having a crank handle (shown broken away in the v figure) is provided for turningthe shaft 26.

vAny appropriate means may be provided for locking the needle block in elevated position when it is released from its rocking lever, for adjusting or other purposes, but such means is not shown in the drawings.

The nine sinkers 7 shown in the drawings, are moved in the forward direction towards the needles 4 by nine separate cams 27, a cam for each sinker. The cams are mounted on a counter shaft 28 that is preferably supported in bearings that are adjustable in position relatively to the frame for the purpose of varying the length of the forward stroke of the sinkers 7 so as to alter the isq length of the loops 52 (Fig. 10) formed by their aid. To this end the shaft 28 may be journalled inv a sliding carriage 29, which may be shifted backwards or forwards by means of the regulating screw 30, the frame being slotted at 2 to permit the adjustment.

The cams are so fashioned that the sinkers will be operated by them in succession one after the other. The return of the sinkers 7 in the reverse direction t the rear position may be effected by means of springs, or weights, or bv appropri'ate positively actingf appliances. n the arrangement shown in the drawings, a series of springs 31, one for each sinker, is employed for this purpose. The springs are attached at one end-to a sinker and at the other end to the frame V2. The outside sinkers 7 may be similarly operated, cams 27 being provided for moving the said sinkers forward and springs similar to springs 31 for' returning them.

The counter shaft 28 may be conveniently turned by means of a gear wheel 32 thereon,

1 and in mesh with the gear wheel 23 on the cam shaft 22. Discs 272 are preferably arranged between the sinker cams or the cams are provided with side flanges to serve as guides to the inner ends of the sinkers as these latter move to and fro.

The yarn or thread carrier comprising a head 5 and a shank 53 is mounted on a slide 33 which is reciprocated along a guide bar 34 suitably supported on theframe 2, in directions parallel with therow of needles Vby means of a lever 35. that is connected at one end by a link 35 with the slide and at the other end to a part 36 fixed to the frame 2, and is adapted to be rocked by a member 37 carried by the lever and arranged to take vinto a groove 38 on a cam member 38 mounted on the cam shaft. Other suitable mechanism, however, may alternatively be employed for reciprocating the slide 33, in lieu of that `just described.

The movement ofthe frame 14 carrying vthe presser foot 13 can be effected by means of suitable lever mechanism such as that which is shown in Figs. 1-4 and which comprises the U-slraped lever 39 pivoted at 39 on the support' 40 carried by the frame 2. rlhe lever 39 has a rearwardly extending arm 392 to which is adjustable and pivotally connected one end of a link 41 which at its other end is pivotally connected with an end of a two armed lever 42 pivoted between its ends at 42 on the frame 2. rllhe other end 422 of 'lever 42- is arranged to lie in the path of travel of two pins 23 projecting laterally from a face of the wheel 23. rlhe upper end of the presser foot frame 14 is connected with the lever 39 by a pin or rod 44 that' is slidable in a slot 393 provided in the front end of the lever.

A. spring 45 attached'at one end to the frame 2 and at its other or upper end to the lever 42, and cause said lever to turn on its pivot 42 thereby Yeperating the parts 41, 39, 43 and 14 so that the presser foot 13 is momentarily raised to allow of the forward feed of the material to be darned.

The needle beard closing mechanism,

v-vahiqlivas stated above comprises the bevelled e'dgebar 8 that is disposed transverse of and in rear of the row of needles 4, is intermittently reciprocated by link and lever mechanism controlled by a cam device carried by the cam shaft 22. Such mechanism may comprise a spindle 46 that is journalled in the side wall of the horn 10 and is provided at each end with an larm 46 the two arms being pivotally connected respectively with parts 9 depending from the ends of the two arms 9 for actuating the beard closing bar 8. A third arm 462 on the spindle 46 is pivotally connected with the lower end of a link 47 which at its other end is pivotally connected with a. lever 48 which is pivoted between its ends at 48 on the frame 2, and carries at its upper end a bowl or other member 49 which is normally pressed by the action of a spring 50 into engagement with the periphery of the cam member 21 on. cam shaft 22, the said periphery being provided with -two projections 21 which on engaging with the bowl 49 as the cam member rotates will cause lever 48 to turn about the axis of its fulcrum 48 and cause the arms 9 and beard closing bar 8 to advance and close the l beards on the needles 4.

The work holder may be arranged to slide or be fed along the horn either automatically by spring action or positively by appropriate step by step feed mechanism actuated from one or other of the shafts.

ln the machine illustrated, particularly in Figs.` 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, a suitable stepby step feed mechanism is shown, the mechanism comprising an inverted U- shaped plate 51 furnished on its vface with a series of teeth or points 51 adapted intermittently to enga-ge with, and when rocked in the manner described below, to retract from off the shield or carrier 11, for a predetermined extent, .the material 12 that is being darned. The plate 51 has on each of its side limbs a slot 512 into which projects a pin 52 extending laterally from the side of a bar 52 carried by the plate 10. The two auxiliary sinkers 53 one on each side of the machine are advanced forwardly by two flanged cam members 54 against the action of springs 53 attached to the sinkers 53 at one end and to the frame 2 at the other end.' rjlhe sinkers 53 are returned rearwardly as In the -front side portions of the sinliers are grooves 532 and into these grooves project pins '513. on the limibs of plate 51. The grooves are so designed that, as thetsinkers fi 53 reciprocate, combined upf and down and l oscillatory movements are imparted to the toothed plate 51 bythe cooperative action' between the grooves and the pins 513. the sinkers advance beyond the position shown in Fig. A1, while the teeth 5`lf lengage with the material 11 the upper' part of plate 51 will rock forwardly, the plate turning about pins 52, andv the vsaid upper part thereby retracting or drawing the material 15 along with it. As the sinkers return or move rearwardly the plate 51 will be drawn down and be simultaneously rocked back to the upright position,xthe teeth being simultaneously retracted froml the material. When next the sinle'rs 53 advance vthe late 51 will vbe again raised so that the teet re-engage with .the material and the positions shown in Fig.A 1 are again attained.

. 4Supposingt'lie machine is to b e utilized for 2 5 --rep-airing or darning a hole in a sockor other piece of fabric, its action is follows `Yarn o rfthread from spool 6 lis threaded through a guide 33 carried by the slide 33 and through an eye in the front end 5 of the4 yarn carrier. The sock is then drawn over the shieldf 1'1 4and h orn`10 as indicated in Fig.

2,' or in the ,case of. apiece of fabric, the fab- `ric is stretched or spreadV on to the shield 11, the hole in the sock or piece of fabric being arranged in ythe rear of the row of needles. The; presser foot 13 which would have been turned on its pivots to permit of the work being adjusted in position is then turned back and lowered to hold the sock or4 40 fabric down. On the iiywheel shaft 26 being turned, the needles 4 descend through the fabric 12, the yarn or thread 5 is carried across (from right to'left in F igs.'2 and 7) and below thebottom face of the sock o1" fabric on the shield 11 in the space between the front ends of the sinkers and the' rear portions of the needles. On the sinkers"'.,7 advancing, the yarn is carried or pushed by' them through the spaces between the needles, whereby a setof loops 52 is formed as shown in Fig. 8. V y

yThe beards 4 of the needles are thereupon closed by th'e beard-closing bar 8, the yarn placing-then retained by the needles which rise T nd take the loops 52 through the vsock o-r bie, Fig. 9, whereupon the presser foot ri torelease the work which is th'en drawn forward by the action of the toothed plate 51 as explained above.

The needles having in their ascent thus passed through vthe fabric the beards are 1elieved from pressure by the beard-closerso that on the needles again descending the loops are free to disengage from the beards. After the descending needles have passed or returned through the fabric the yarn is again drawn across the machine (on this occasion vfrom left to' right) inrear of the l needles and a new set of loops is formed, as showny inFig. 10, which loops,.as the'needles again ascend are drawn through the first said set of loops. These operations being repeated, the hole in the fabric eventually becomes filled in wi-th a seriesof loops. The loop .filling f should extend somewhat beyond the margins of the hole. The yarn should no w be severed from the supply on spool 6 and the stitching or linitting continued until the end of the cut-off portion of the yarn is knittedvin and the work is free of the needles and consequently free to be drawn or taken off the horn.

'As stated above, the size of the loops formed is governed by the extent to which the sinkers can move in advance of the needles7 which is regulated by the position of the sinker cams 27' on "the cam shaft 28 which is carried in adjustable bearings in.' the slidable frame or carriage 29 that can be advanced or drawn back'without lthe gears 32 and 23 employedfor'rotating the shaft being put out of gear. f l I v f As the loops are to'be-'liner or coarse'r, the lift of the needles willvbe accordingly regulated by adjusting .the effective` length of the linkage device 17 employed for connecting the needle block carrier 15 withathe needle operating lever 18. -Asuitableindex device may be provided for indicatingthe amount of adjustment effected in the length, which adjustment should bear a proportional relation to the adjustment in position the sinker cam shaft 28. f.

Having thus describedl the natureof the said invention and the best means Iknowv 105 of carrying the same into practical effect, I" claim 'Y 1. An apparatus for rep'airlnggknit ma terial comprising a row -ofl alined spaced bearded needles mounted for .descending 11e and rising movement, means ,for imparting movement to said needlesto cause. them to first descend through the material to berepaired and then to pass upwardly through it, a yarn carrier-movable toand fro'trans- 1 15 I versely of and in the rear of the rowof-nee.-

dles for spreading yarn behind'the needles andbelow said material, a series of independently operated reciprocating sinkers for. pushing the spread yarn forwardly between and against the needles when in the lowered position land for looping the yarn aboutthe needles,` means for closing the beards of the needles to cause said beards to engage Ithe yarn for drawing said loops through said material during the rising movement of the needles, means for reciprocating said sinkers,` means for imparting a step-byfstep movement to said material in a direction rearwardly of and relatively to the row of 130 Mama@ needles, means for holding said material `against movement during the descendin and rising movements of said needles, an

means for actuating said several mecha nisms. 1 f I 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 'wherein' the means for reciprocating the sinkers is' adjustable or'varying the field of movement of the sinkers and thereby varying the size of the loops of yarn formed by said sinlaersn Baflrny apparatus' according to claim. 1`

wherein the means for imparting movement to the needles may lbe lengthened or shortened in accordance withthe length of the loops of yarn formed by the sinkers.

4:. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a pair of yarn guides are mounted to reciprocate below the plane of 'movement t the material and to the rear of the neeles.

5. An apparatus for repairing knit material comprising a holder for the material to be operated upon, ai block movable toward and away from said holder, a plurality of spaced bearded needles carried by said lblock, means for adjusting the length o movement of said block, a yarn lcarrier mounted to reciprocate transversely of and to the rear of said-needles forspreading yarn behind the needles and below the material to be voperated upon, lplurality of independently-operated reciprocating sinker barseach movable between a pair of said needles after vthe needles have lpenetrated said materialV for pushinglthespread lyarn y forwardly against and between the needles for engagement by the beards of said needles a air of ar'n uides mounted to rea P Y g l ciprocate below said holder and to the rear of said 'needles for guiding the yarn in advance of said'sinker bars, means for closin the beards hof said needles to cause saiy beards to pull the loops'of yarn through the material whentlieneedles arewithdrawn therefrom, means for moving the material along said holder a. definite v distancl` real wardly of said needles each time said needles are withdrawn 'from said material, means for holding the material against movement while the needles are penetrating same and are being withdrawn therefrom, .means for 

